The Resolute club of Elizabeth, NJ claimed their third AA pennant in '81 with a hard charge at the end, beating out Eckford by six games:
In the Quarterfinals, the Eckfords tangled with the Indianapolis Hoosiers, who were making their first playoff appearance in just their second season in the AA. Leading 7-4 after eight innings, Brooklyn saw their lead disappear in the top of the ninth when Jack Chapman hit a bases-clearing double. But Eckford settled matter in the last of the ninth when Molly Moore (yes, that's a dude) singled home Andy Harris. In the other quarter, "King" Kelly ruled over the Centennials with a two-run double in the ninth, snapping a 2-2 tie and giving Baltimore a 4-2 win. In the semifinal, the Marylands put up single runs in the fourth and fifth, only to see Elizabeth do the same in the sixth and seventh. It remained tied at 2 until the 11th, with Al Metcalf walked, stole second, went to third on a groundout, then came home on a George Flanly single. Hurler Elias Cope set Brooklyn down in the bottom of the inning, and the Marylands were off to the Cup Final.
In the finale, rookie star George Derby, winner of 21 games in the regular campaign, took the hill for the Resolutes -- and quickly wished he had stood in bed. Baltimore scored four runs before Elizabeth could even come to bat, then added six more in the next three stanzas. Pete Gillespie and Sam Trott each drove in four runs in a 11-5 laugher -- allowing the Maryland club to retain the American Cup!
